Landlords Are Exploiting Tenants’ Distaste for Moving To Raise Rent

Core insights:

• 87% of renters say the hassle of moving influences their decision to accept rent increases, with some willing to tolerate hikes of 10% or more just to stay put.
• 1 in 5 landlords admit charging existing tenants more than new ones, often because they know renters want to avoid moving.
• 30% of landlords say they’ve used rent hikes to push tenants out.
• Nearly 1 in 10 refuse to negotiate lease renewal.

Renters Will Pay More To Avoid the Pain of Moving

Most renters say they will accept a rent hike when their lease is up for renewal.

• 40% are willing to accept a 1% to 4% increase, and 20% a 5% to 9% increase.
• 8% will accept a 10% to 14% increase, and 3% will go even higher.
• About 24% say they won’t accept any increase and will move instead, and 4% are moving regardless.

A major driver is the stress of moving. Nearly 9 in 10 renters (87%) say the hassle influences their decision to stay.

• 91% describe moving as stressful, with 56% calling it very stressful.
• Top moving stressors include finding a new place (64%), cost (64%), packing (62%), and the physical toll (58%).
• Half fear ending up in a worse living situation, and 41% fear the emotional stress of leaving a familiar place.

“Moving is stressful because it disrupts nearly every part of daily life,” says Reagan Phillips, home organization and storage expert at Storage Units. “There’s the financial burden of hiring movers, paying deposits, and covering unexpected costs, and logistically, it’s overwhelming to pack, organize, and coordinate timelines. On top of that, many people feel anxious about leaving a familiar space and fear ending up in a situation where they’re less comfortable. Moving creates a physical, emotional, and financial strain all at once.”

Landlords Know Tenants Hate Moving and Use It To Raise Rents

Many landlords openly acknowledge they charge renewing tenants more simply because they can. One in five (21%) admit to charging existing tenants more than new ones, and nearly half (47%) say it is because tenants are unlikely to move over an increase.

This practice has not gone unnoticed. Seventeen percent of renters say they have discovered a unit they chose not to renew being listed for less than what they were asked to pay. Among renters in general, 45% say they would be very angry to learn their old unit was re-listed for less than their renewal rate, and 34% would be somewhat angry.

Significant rent hikes are common: 28% of landlords typically increase rent by 5% to 9%, and 6% go 10% or higher. Even though 53% claim to “reward” long-term tenants with smaller increases, many still take advantage of renters’ reluctance to move.

“Landlords charge renewing tenants more than new ones because they are willing to take the chance that the existing tenant will decide they would rather pay the rent increase than deal with the hassle of finding a new place and moving,” says licensed real estate broker Chuck Vander Stelt. “Rent increases will always risk long-term tenant retention, but landlords can use techniques to soften the impact of a rent increase. For example, upon a tenant signing a lease, let them know what the rent will be at the next renewal period.”

Some Landlords Refuse To Negotiate and Use Increases To Push Tenants Out

Rent hikes aren’t always about covering costs. Some landlords admit they raise rent specifically to push tenants out. Three percent say they use this tactic all the time, 6% say often, and 21% say sometimes.

Regarding lease renewals, only about 10% of landlords say they are not open to negotiating rent increases at all. Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) say they are always willing to negotiate, 17% say often, and 35% say they are sometimes willing to negotiate.

Methodology: This report is based on data from a survey commissioned by StorageUnits.com and conducted online via Pollfish in July 2025. The survey included responses from 1,000 U.S. renters and 300 landlords or property managers. Inquiries can be directed to [email protected].